Harold Dejan

Founded by saxophonist Harold Dejan in 1958, the Olympia Brass Strap has continued to fulfill Brand-new Orleans audiences at funerals, Mardi Gras parades, and concerts in the People from france Market (aswell as sundry various other occasions), rendering it perhaps one of the most long lasting of most such units. More often than not, it uses typical instrumentation of around a dozen parts: three trumpets (generally one business lead, with others alternating on melody), two trombones (which might also dual), two saxophones (occasionally clarinet), tuba, snare, and bass drum. Featured music artists over time have got included trumpeters George “Child Sheik” Colar, Andy Anderson, and Milton Batiste; trombonists Paul Crawford and Gerald Joseph; Dejan and Emanuel Paul on saxophones; Andrew Jefferson on snare, and bass drummers Henry “Booker” Cup and his kid, “Papa.” The Olympia provides made vacations to European countries on several events and made an appearance in the Adam Bond film, Live and Allow Die. Compared to newer brass bands just like the Dirty Dozen, Dejan’s Olympia preserved “traditional” repertoire comprising hymns, marches, and New Orleans-style jazz criteria. Dejan experienced a heart stroke in 1991, which still left him struggling to play the saxophone, but nonetheless in a position to sing. He passed away on July 5, 2002 in New Orleans.